TEAM PREACHING IS LIKE BARN RAISING

Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts. – Amish Proverb

We do not relegate the pulpit work, or the rest of the church’s teaching, to the lead pastor to handle as much as he can alone and then fill slots when he’s on vacation. We value plurality in teaching, and preaching, just as we value the plurality of elders in decision-making, oversight, and pastoral ministry throughout the week. We begin not by asking how the lead pastor can preach as much as possible, but by asking how we can most effectively teach and preach as a team of pastors.

- Team Preaching by David Mathis [https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/team-preaching]
A barn raising north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 20th century

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.oldbarnstar.com/celebration-of-amish-barn-raising-season/]

A barn raising, also historically called a raising bee or rearing in the U.K., is a collective action of a community, in which a barn for one of the members is built or rebuilt collectively by members of the community. Barn raising was particularly common in 18th- and 19th-century rural North America. A barn was a necessary structure for any farmer, for example for storage of cereals and hay and keeping of animals. Yet a barn was also a large and costly structure, the assembly of which required more labor than a typical family could provide. Barn raising addressed the need by enlisting members of the community, unpaid, to assist in the building of their neighbors' barns. Because each member could ask others for help, reciprocation could eventually reasonably be presumed for each participant if the need were to arise.

The tradition of "barn raising" continues, more or less unchanged, in some Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities, particularly in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and some rural parts of Canada. The practice continues outside of these religious communities, albeit less frequently than in the 19th century. Most frames today are raised using a crane and small crew.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_raising

There is a kind of preaching that God blesses, specifically the proclamation Image There is a kind of preaching that God blesses, specifically the proclamation that exalts the crucified Christ by the power of the Spirit. Conversely, there is a kind of preaching that God does not bless, a mere echoing of man’s empty wisdom that is devoid of Christ. — Steve Lawson
[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.idlehearts.com/2548641/there-is-a-kind-of-preaching-that-god-blesses-specifically-the-proclamation]

Steven J Lawson:

https://onepassion.org/dr-steven-j-lawson/

https://tms.edu/faculty/steven-j-lawson/

https://www.azquotes.com/author/54121-Steve_Lawson

https://miskawilhelmsson.com/lecture-vs-sermon/

Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts. – Amish Proverb

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.pinterest.com.au/amishw/amish-proverbs/]

Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts. – Amish Proverb

The Amish proverb above is one of my favorite. It makes me desire Team preaching. As it written in Mark 3:14, Jesus did train and send his 12 disciples out to preach. The Seven Deacons in Acts 6 verse 1-7 is another good example. Notice that it was not a single preacher but more than 4 of them.

Seven Deacons in Acts 6 verse 1 to 7

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://sjwest.org/seven-deacons/]

http://www.beachyam.org/secure/archive/MMM2008-Arthur.pdf

I understand that ministry work and sermon preparation can be very challenging, so I believe that ministers should work as a team like those who are doing barn raising. As Eberhard Arnold once said:

“We must live in community because we are stimulated by the same creative Spirit of unity who calls nature to unity and through whom work and culture shall become community in God.” — Eberhard Arnold

https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/07/140th-birthday-for-eberhard-arnold-july.html

Barn Raising Analogy:

Please watch these two videos on Amish Barn raising:

The Amish: Barn Raising Days | Full Movie | Burton Buller
Oct 1, 2021
The Amish: Barn Raising Day examines how Amish manage to raise a barn in a single day. Both post and beam construction, the traditional barn construction method, and the more modern stick-built construction techniques are displayed. Director: Burton Buller

https://alansfactoryoutlet.com/the-amish-barn-raising-tradition/

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfKkuZmlx6U

RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/vvh4lq-the-amish-barn-raising-days.html

Ohio Amish Barn Raising - May 13th, 2014 in 3 Minutes and 30 seconds
May 14, 2014
My husband, Scott Miller, shot this video with a Canon 60d Camera using a Pixel TW-282/E3 Wireless remote timer set at 20 second intervals. He shot 1600 pictures from 7:00am until 5:00pm and compressed the 10 hours into 3 minutes and 30 seconds. He even took the day
https://noblewarriors.org/6-lessons-team-work-amish-barn-raising/

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsTB0HnM6WM

RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/vvh65a-ohio-amish-barn-raising-may-13th-2014-in-3-minutes-and-30-seconds.html

We do not relegate the pulpit work, or the rest of the church’s teaching, to the lead pastor to handle as much as he can alone and then fill slots when he’s on vacation. We value plurality in teaching, and preaching, just as we value the plurality of elders in decision-making, oversight, and pastoral ministry throughout the week. We begin not by asking how the lead pastor can preach as much as possible, but by asking how we can most effectively teach and preach as a team of pastors.
- Team Preaching by David Mathis [https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/team-preaching]

“Expository preaching consists in the explanation and application of a passage of Scripture. Without explanation it is not expository; without application it is not preaching.” - Steven J. Lawson

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/374221050273931852/]

Steven J Lawson:

https://onepassion.org/dr-steven-j-lawson/

https://tms.edu/faculty/steven-j-lawson/

https://www.azquotes.com/author/54121-Steve_Lawson

https://miskawilhelmsson.com/lecture-vs-sermon/

As the Amish proverb goes as saying, “Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts.” ….. I feel that team preaching is like barn raising where it requires a team to help one another in need. The Barn represents the church, while the builders represent the churchmen like the bishops, ministers, and deacons etc.

As Mark Hallock wrote in his article, 10 Reasons to consider a team preaching model:

Any preacher will tell you: Sermon prep is a joyful yet agonizing process. It takes incredible mental, emotional, spiritual and physical energy every week. I typically spend 15-20 hours a week preparing my sermons. Moreover, I preach hard for 35-45 minutes at two different weekend services. Over time, this will take a toll on a preacher, unless the church has a shared preaching model in place. I hope, by God’s grace, to pastor and lead at Calvary for many years to come. If this is to happen, I cannot crush myself by not sharing the pulpit with other pastor-elders. No one can do this alone for the long-term in a healthy way.

A shared pulpit allows our congregation to be fed by different pastor-elders, each with unique personalities and giftings. There is not one preacher who will connect with everyone in the same way in the same congregation. A shared preaching model helps our congregation to value and experience a variety of preachers, all committed to loving and shepherding God’s people through the faithful, expositional preaching of God’s Word.

Imagine if a single builder were to raise barn by himself, it will most probably take him months or more than a year to complete it, but with a team of more than 100 builders, it will take them only 10 hours to finish. Likewise with team preaching, each preacher can take at least a few weeks to finish preparing his sermon, instead of a single week.

Different builders have different kinds of skills, but each one can help raise the barn with their own skill. That goes for team preaching where a pulpit is being shared.

Weavertown Beachey Amish Mennonite Church is an example:

Weavertown Amish Mennonite Church is a Beachy Amish Mennonite congregation located in the village of Weavertown, between the somewhat larger villages of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They have one bishop (lead Pastor) and 5 ministers and they share the pulpit, meaning that each Sunday, you will see a different minister preaching.

Their Ministry Team:

Glenn Miller, Bishop

Dave Stoltzfoos, Minister

Nate Bange, Minister

Norman Kauffman, Minister

John L. Lapp, Minister

Joseph Peachey, Minister

Here are some of their sermons:

I follow their church and I enjoy their sermons. Sometimes, they do topical sermons and other times, expository preaching. Here are some of their sermons I find that are good that have helped me in my life:

The Infinite Power of God - Dave Stoltzfoos

Streamed live on Feb 20, 2022

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTedP2OA1xU&t=2345s

Our Living Hope - Dave Stoltzfoos

Bible Verses: I Peter 1:1-5

Streamed live on May 29, 2022

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-2ykpoYFmA&t=1418s

Job - Glenn Miller

Weavertown Church

Sep 18, 2022

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPHIx4GYh5M&t=564s

Tale of Two Daughters- Glenn Miller 07/16/23

Weavertown Church

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHPG-HMeRjA&t=1145s

Where Is God When It Hurts? - Nate Bange

Bible Verses: Psalm 3

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHZFug2Tt6I&t=2303s

Can Somebody Please Stop The Hamster Wheel? Finding Purpose In Life -- Nate Bange

Feb 5, 2023

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-VEcPypIjA&t=959s

The Kingdom Manual: The Authority of the Scriptures -- Norman Kauffman

Nov 19, 2017

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IIOcpfvQZ8&t=1339s

Grace: Rich, Poor, Rich --Norman Kauffman 1/3/21

Jan 4, 2021

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrVx70NE2Wg&t=808s

The Cross Our Greatest Gift - John L. Lapp

Nov 14, 2021

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H49jLfGYlBI&t=450s

Christ's Wonderful Gifts to Us - John L. Lapp

Jan 1, 2023

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X-uJHytLIY&t=23s

God's Amazing Grace - Joseph Peachey

Mar 22, 2020

Prerecorded Sermon for March 22, 2020

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KRuY-LAhE&t=556s

Keep Going, Don't Quit - Joseph Peachey [19 April 2020]

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJpaqjeGhw&t=59s

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus - Joseph Peachey

Pray for these young people as they anticipate baptism next Sunday: Malea Allgyer, Kayla Lapp, Katrina Miller, Sierra Peachey, Nathan Fisher, Joshua Stoltzfus, Nathaniel Stoltzfus.

Mar 19, 2023

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j78opRXnwWk&t=1951s

https://alansfactoryoutlet.com/the-amish-barn-raising-tradition/

Twelve Benefits of Team Leadership By David Mathis

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/twelve-benefits-of-team-leadership

Seven Ways to Improve Your Team By David Mathis

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-ways-to-improve-your-team

Team Preaching - Why Our Pastors Share the Pulpit

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/team-preaching

10 Reasons to consider a team preaching model By Mark Hallock

https://www.namb.net/church-replanting/resource/10-reasons-to-consider-a-team-preaching-model/

https://apologiachurch.com/meet-the-team/

What is preaching? Logic on fire! Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire. A true understanding and experience of the Truth must lead to this. I say again that a man who can speak about these things dispassionately has no right whatsoever to be in a pulpit; and should never be allowed to enter one. - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1403659]

https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2018/12/martyn-lloyd-jones-on-preaching-quote.html

CHURCHES LINKS:

http://www.weavertown.org/

https://pequeamennonite.com/

https://salemmennonite.church/

https://calvarychapelsturgis.org/

https://locustcreekchurch.wordpress.com/

https://www.pilgrimministry.org/

http://www.beachyam.org/

Sermons by Arlyn Schmucker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNyd_HU6hdY